News briefs for Oct. 17, 2003

Friday, Oct. 17, 2003 | 9:41 a.m.

Man appears to be drive-by victim

A 32-year-old man apparently was shot to death near 28th Street and Elm Avenue about 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, Metro Police said.

After receiving several 911 calls about shots fired in the area, patrol officers found Eduardo Gonzalez of Las Vegas in the 2800 block of Elm, police said.

The coroner's office will determine the cause of death, police said.

Witnesses said a small vehicle was seen driving towards the victim as he walked east on Elm. Someone inside the vehicle fired twice at Gonzalez, then the vehicle left the area, police said.

Anyone with information about the shooting can call Metro's Homicide Section at 229-3521. Tipsters who call Crime Stoppers, 385-5555, can remain anonymous and will be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.

Grant to help disabled Nevadans

A $750,000 federal grant to cover three years is going to the state Office of Disability Services to help move people with disabilities from institutions back into their communities.

Gov. Kenny Guinn said Thursday there are more than 375,000 Nevadans with disabilities, with at least 50,000 being children or young adults.

The state's disabled population has increased by 157 percent in the past 10 years while the national rate has fallen 2 percent.

Man killed in crash is ID'd

A 19-year-old man who was killed Wednesday night while racing another driver down Bonanza Road near Seventh Street has been identified as Marlon Rodriguez of Las Vegas, the Clark County coroner's office said.

Metro Police said Rodriguez lost control of his 1981 Mazda RX-7 and hit a UPS truck. He was pronounced dead at the scene. An 18-year-old passenger was seriously injured.